A couple in Bhubaneswar was arrested on Sunday for physically torturing a minor girl and making her do housework for last nine months.
The Sahid Nagar police arrested Abinash Patra, a marine engineer, and his wife JS Niharika on charges of torturing the girl. They had brought her from Bagdafa village in Mayurbhanj district promising her good education.
The couple, residents of laxmi Vihar in the city, instead, engaged the girl in housework after a few days of bringing her.
The couple was arrested after a complaint was lodged by the girl’s parents at the Sarat police station in Mayurbhanj district.
They alleged that though the couple had taken the girl to Bhubaneswar for her education, they engaged her in the domestic chores and branded her with hot iron when she showed any reluctance.
Besides, the couple had not allowed the girl to contact her family members for the last eight months, it was further alleged.
Patra and his wife were later produced in a judicial court, which ordered for their judicial custody.